Michael O’Hara has been named Director of Communications and Development for Union, effective immediately. In his new position, O’Hara will oversee all facets of the College’s 10-person Office of Communications, including media relations, print and Web-based communications, and integrated marketing. The department, located at 69 Union Ave., is now part of the Office of College Relations, reporting to Tom Gutenberger, vice president of College Relations.
With the new organizational structure, O'Hara will continue to oversee Leadership Gifts, Planned Giving and Family Leadership Giving for the College, and the Annual Fund will report directly to Gutenberger.
O’Hara joined Union in 2001 as Director of Development after two years at Bay Path College in Longmeadow, Mass., as vice president for College Relations and Communications. He also spent nine years in various development roles at Cornell University. He holds a B.S. in industrial and labor relations from Cornell.
“I look forward to working with the Communications staff as we continue to be a positive, productive force for the entire College,” O’Hara said.
O’Hara lives in Niskayuna with his wife, Susan Audie, and their three children.
In other staff news from College Relations, Julie Solomon has been named director of the Annual Fund. Solomon brings 13 years of experience to the position. She began her career at Skidmore College, where she served as assistant director of Alumni Relations and of the Annual Fund, and as Annual Fund associate director. Since joining Union in 2000, she has held the positions of Leadership Gifts officer and “You are Union” Campaign director. She holds a B.A. in government from Skidmore College. Solomon lives in Clifton Park with her husband, Curt, and their two sons.
Scott Rava of Latham has been named director of Leadership Gifts. Previously, he served as a Leadership Gifts officer. He was director of stewardship at Harvard Business School for four years before coming to Union in 2001. He holds a B.S. from LeMoyne College.